More NYC businesses could qualify for 9/11 aid

An agency trying to help Manhattan merchants recover from the Sept. 11 terror attacks wants to expand the number of businesses that qualify for aid.

The Lower Manhattan Development Corporation says it wants to broaden its definition of who can get shares of $5 million in grants set aside for businesses affected by reconstruction of the neighborhood.

The money is supposed to help alleviate some of the downturn in business caused by all the construction in the area.

The new proposal would more than triple the number of blocks where merchants are deemed to be affected by construction.

The change still needs to be approved by the city's Economic Development Corporation.

The LMDC had been criticized for giving out only about $1 million in grants so far.